Siddaramaiah welcomes SC verdict in MUDA case

Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Monday wel- ‘comed the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Karnataka high court verdict quashing the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) notice in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case, calling it a “resounding slap” on the face of the Union government's alleged misuse of investigating agencies.

- Arun Dev

Questioning the ED’s conduct in politically sensitive cases, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai said, “Let political battles be fought before the electorate. Why are you (ED) being used?”

In a strongly worded statement issued by his office, Siddaramaiah said the apex court's ruling — rejecting the ED’s appeal to investigate his wife, Parvathi Siddaramaiah, in connection with the MUDA site allotment — had “unequivocally cleared” their names.

“The Supreme Court's historic verdict rejecting the Enforcement Directorate’s appeal to investigate my wife, Smt. Parvathi, in connection with the MUDA site allotment case is a resounding slap on the face of the central government's vendetta politics,” the statement read.

“This verdict has not only exposed the malice behind the case but has also unequivocally cleared our names of all the baseless allegations,” it further stated.

The chief minister said the judgment delivered by Chief Justice BR Gavai and justice K Vinod Chandran reaffirmed his lifelong belief in constitutional values.

“I humbly welcome the verdict... Throughout my long political career, I have always bowed before the Constitution and the rule of law. This verdict upholds and protects that very belief.”